Separable or sectional printer&#39;s chase.



'No. s9|,9s7. 'Pate'nted Ian. 28, I902.

w. H. PADGETLJR.

SEPARABLE 0R SECTIONAL PRINTEBS CHASE.

(Application filed May 21, 1901.

(No Model.)

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Urrno STATES PATENT @FFICE.

WILLIAM H. PADGETT, JR., OF NEW ALBANY, INDIANA.

SEPARABLE OR SECTIONAL PRINTERS CHASE.

$PE IFICAT N forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 691,967, dated January1902' Application filed May 21,1901. Serial No. 61,258. No model.)

To (ZZZ whom 2325 may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. PADGETT,

Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at New Albany, in thecounty of Floyd and State of Indiana, have invented a new and usefulSeparable or Sectional Printers Chase, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to printers chases; and it consists in a chaseformed of a series of interchangeable bars having interlocking jointsatthe ends, whereby when four of the bars are assembled and interlocked acomplete chase is formed.

The invention further consists in the novel manner of forming theinterlocking joint, whereby the completed chase is supported againstdisplacement when pressure is exerted from the interior of the chase.

In the drawings illustrative of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of one of the improved chases set up for use. Fig. 2 is aperspective view, broken away, of the end portions of two of theinterlocking bars. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a series of chasesof different sizes, illustrating the manner in which a large number ofchases may be formed by a limited number of the interlocking bars.

The ordinary printers chase is formed of a frame of iron or steel in onepiece and requires that a different and separate chase be provided foreach size of sheet or type-form, thus entailing upon the printer thenecessity for providing a large number of chases or to adapt acomparatively large chase to a small form by building in'with woodfurniture for the lock-up. Thissurplus wood furniture requires much timeto arrange, and, moreover, renders the lock-u p uncertain and liable tospring or bow the chase. To avoid this annoyance and to provide a largenumber of chases of different sizes by the employment of a comparativelyfew number of pieces is the object of my invention, as will be clearlyset forth in the accompanying description and drawings illustrative ofmy invention.

In the drawings illustrative of the invention the chase is shown formedof the four bars 1, 2, 3, and at, each bar being a counterpart of theothers at its end and each formed with interlocking devices at each end,as shown. Each of the bars is formed at one end with lug 5, and with adepression or cavity 6 between the lug and the body portion of the bar.The outer surface of the lug 5 is curved, as shown, and the inner faceof the lug is formed concaved, as at 7'. The opposite end of each of thebars is formed with a projection 8 at right angles to the bar, and witha lug 9 projecting inwardly therefrom and parallel to the body of thebar, leaving a cavity 10 between the lug and the body of the bar. Theinner face of the lug 9 is formed convex, as at 11, and conforming tothe concave side 7 of the lug 5. The inner side of the projection 8,forming the extremity of the cavity 10, is curved, as shown at 12, toconform to the outwardly-ciu'ved side of the lug 5. Vhen thusconstructed, the lug 5 of one bar engages the cavity 10 ofthe adjacentbar, the concave 7 of the lug 5 engaging the convex 11 of the lug 9, andthe lug 9 of one bar engaging the cavity 6 of the adjacent bar. By thissimple means the adjacent ends of the bars may be firmly and readilyinterlocked, the coacting lugs and cavities preventing any dislocationfrom pressure exerted from within the chase and the coacting concave andconvex surfaces 7 11, preventing anylateral movement. \Vhen thuscombined and interlocked, a frame is produced which will be firmlylocked at the corners and will effectually resist displacement by anypressure from Within and will form a chase which is equally as strong asany solid one-piece chase.

To assemble the chase, two pairs of the bars are interlocked, as abovedescribed. This will form two right-angled half-frames. Then theremaining unconnected ends are brought into engagement at the same time,as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and drawn togethersimultaneously,when the coactinglugs and cavities will readily engageand the chase will be ready for use. To separate the bars, it is onlynecessary to draw one bar inward by the end having thclug 5 and forcethe diametrically opposite lug 9 outward, as indicated in Fig. 1, orsimply reverse the process of assembling the bars. By this simplearrangement a chase may be constructed ofany required size by providinga series of the bars of dilierent lengths, and by making the side barsof one chase conform in length to the end bars of another chase acomparatively limited number of bars may be made to form the side bars 1and 3 of each chase conforming in length to theend bars of the next sizelarger, except, of course, the end bars of the smallest chase and theside bars of the largest chase, which are not duplicated. Thus thematerial forming the four chases in Fig. 3, or sixteen pieces in all,will make a large number of sizes of chases by exchanging the bars. Thisis avery important advantage and will commend the device moreparticularly to printers having limited room and at the same time willbe equally advantageous in the largest establishments.

The convex and concave surfaces of the lugs 5 and 9 are an importantfeature of this invention, as they effectually prevent lateraldisplacement when the chases, with their locked-up forms, are moved fromplace to place or when being arranged upon the press or imposing-stone.

While I prefer the form of concave and convex surfaces shown, any otherform, such as a tongue and groove, may be employed, if preferred.

The bars employed to form the sides or ends of the larger chases may beprovided with dovetailed cavities 12, as shown in Fig. 3, to aifordmeans for the insertion of the usual cross-bars employed in ordinarychases of large size.

What I claim as new is- 1. In a separable and sectional printers chase,a series of flat bars, each respectively having at opposite ends inalternation a lug projecting at right angles to the length of the barand a recess between said lug and the body of the bar, and a projectionat right angles to the body of the bar with an inwardly extendingterminal lug at right angles to said projection and longitudinallyparallel with the adjacent portion of the inner edge of the bar to forma cavity between said projection and lug thereof and body of the bar,the firstnamed lug and recess separably interlocking with theprojection, lug and cavity at the end of an adjacent bar, whereby aseries of frames may be produced having a graduated size, the lengths ofthe end members of one set of said frames corresponding in length to theside members-of the'remaining sets of said frames,whereby members offrames of various sizes may be constructed with the same bars byinterchanging the bars.

2. In a separable and sectional printers chase, a series of bars, eachhaving a lug at one end and a recess between said lug and the body ofthe bar, a projection at right angles to the body of each bar at theopposite end and with a lug extending inwardly from each of saidprojections and parallel to the body of the bar and forming a cavitybetween said projection and lug and the body of the bar, said lugs beingformed with corresponding concave and convex faces, whereby four barsthus formed may be interlocked at their adjacent ends to form arectangular frame inseparable when pressure is exerted from within, andimmovable laterally, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. PADGE'IT, JR.

Witnesses:

AUGUST TRUNK, JAMES '1. BROWN.

